Generate Agent Definition

Initialize todos tool:

[
  {"content": "Gather agent requirements", "status": "in_progress", "active_form": "Gathering agent requirements"},
  {"content": "Determine agent category", "status": "pending", "active_form": "Determining agent category"},
  {"content": "Structure agent definition", "status": "pending", "active_form": "Structuring agent definition"},
  {"content": "Generate agent file", "status": "pending", "active_form": "Generating agent file"},
  {"content": "Validate generated agent", "status": "pending", "active_form": "Validating generated agent"}
]

This skill generates new agent definition files following the established agent structure and best practices observed in the agents folder.

Purpose

Create well-structured agent definition files that can be loaded by the agent skill. Agents define specialized behaviors, constraints, and instructions for focused task execution.

Agent Structure Patterns

Based on existing agents, there are several common patterns:

1. Role-based agents: Define a specific role and expertise area
2. Task-focused agents: Optimize for specific workflows or operations
3. Meta-agents: Agents that create or manage other agents
4. Domain experts: Specialized knowledge in a particular field

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather agent requirements from the user:
   • Agent name (lowercase with hyphens, will be the filename)
   • Primary purpose and role
   • Target domain or task type
   • Specific constraints or requirements
   • Output format preferences
   • Relevant documentation URLs

Update todos: mark "Gather agent requirements" as completed, mark "Determine agent category" as in_progress.

2. Determine agent category:
   • Coder: Programming language or framework specialist
   • Writer: Content creation or analysis
   • Meta: Agent design or prompt engineering
   • Expert: Domain-specific knowledge specialist

Update todos: mark "Determine agent category" as completed, mark "Structure agent definition" as in_progress.

3. Structure the agent definition with these sections:
   • Opening statement: Clear role definition
   • Mission: What the agent does and how it operates
   • Constraints: Technical limits, required tools, documentation sources
   • Style: Communication tone and reasoning approach
   • Forbidden behaviors: What the agent must not do
   • Failure modes and recovery: How to handle errors
   • Output format: Expected response structure
4. For coding agents, include:
   • Language version and tooling
   • Preferred libraries (native vs third-party)
   • Code quality standards
   • Documentation references
5. For meta-agents, include:
   • Target LLM optimizations if applicable
   • Prompt engineering techniques
   • Self-critique mechanisms
   • Verification loops

Update todos: mark "Structure agent definition" as completed, mark "Generate agent file" as in_progress.

6. Generate the agent file:
   • Create file at agents/{agent-name}.md
   • Use clear, directive language
   • Avoid hedge words like "try to" or "you may want to"
   • Include specific examples when relevant
   • Reference authoritative documentation URLs

Update todos: mark "Generate agent file" as completed, mark "Validate generated agent" as in_progress.

7. Validate the generated agent:
   • Check for clarity and completeness
   • Ensure all sections are present
   • Verify documentation links are included
   • Confirm output format is specified

Usage Examples

Generate a new coding agent:

/gen-agent
Agent name: coder-rust
Purpose: Rust programming assistance with focus on safety and performance

Generate a specialized meta-agent:

/gen-agent
Agent name: prompt-optimizer
Purpose: Refine and improve existing system prompts for clarity and effectiveness

Agent File Location

Agent definitions are created in the agents/ directory relative to the skill location. Each agent is a single Markdown file named {agent-name}.md.

Common Agent Components

Role definition:

You are [Name] — a specialized agent whose purpose is to [primary function].

Constraints with documentation:

Constraints:
- Use only [technology/framework]
- Base all work on up-to-date documentation: [URL]
- Produce [quality standard] output

Output format specification:

Output Format:
Always structure responses as:
[specific format with examples]

Notes

• Agent names should be descriptive and use kebab-case
• Always include authoritative documentation URLs
• Be specific about versions and tooling when applicable
• Define clear failure modes and recovery strategies
• Use directive, high-agency language
• Avoid casual chat or explanatory fluff unless the agent role requires it
• For coding agents, emphasize compilable, runnable code
• For meta-agents, include self-critique and verification loops

Update todos: mark "Validate generated agent" as completed. Clear todos with todos([]).